The Snyders in Germany

As we were out in the city during the large festival we met an acquaintance who asked what we were doing.  I honestly responded that we wanted to tell people about Jesus.  He, a Christian by name but not lifestyle (1 John 2:6), said “hey man you got to cool it with this Jesus stuff.  I don’t know if you realize but people are talking about you man.  I go by the basketball court and the skate park and guys are like ‘hey do you know Aaron?’ then they talk about how you go around trying to convert people.  Is that true?  Is that how you want people talking about you?”

“No I don’t want to convert people.”  I responded.  “I want people to repent and let God convert them!”

Then after some discussion the young man said “alright I find it bold what you do.  But I find it even bolder what you do” pointing at the young evangelist next to me. 

“What?  Why me?”  he asked.

“Because you are so young” responded the first.

I was shocked by the whole encounter.  I don’t know if any words have ever stirred my spirit so.  On the one hand I was moved to tears at the accusation that I overwhelm people but on the other hand I’ve never felt closer to God’s call.  Most encouraging was to hear his words about boldness.  Why?  Because that is exactly what we prayed for the first evening.  That is something many Germans are stereotypically lacking and that is also what the disciples had going for them as it says in Acts 4:13  “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Even better than all of this was that the next day Amy and I went out and found the same friend working a stand at the carnival.  He was talking with a young man who began talking with us and upon finding out our faith he began posing all his thoughts and questions regarding Christianity vs. other world views.  Having amply supplied reason for the supremacy of Christ over all other hopes of salvation he took from us an invitation with the name of a good church in his home city of Hamburg.  When I looked back at the other young man he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.  

While the freedom to physically abuse and kill Christians in Germany long disovled it doesnt mean that persecution has ever stopped.  2 Timothy 3:12 declares "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."  There really is a world of people most of whom are racing towards hell.  Unfortunatley, like a dog in a trap most people dont see that we are trying to help.  They think we are out to get them and they react like cornered animals.  Yet among the masses there are always those who God has prepared with noble hearts ready to openly discuss and reason and even recieve the implanted truth of the Word of God.  

                “When it rains it pours” and I don’t mean that in a metaphorical sense this time.  It was literally pouring freezing rain last night as we went out to reach out for the conclusion of our three week Evangelism Course.  It was hard trying to find people ready to talk in the miserable weather.  There were a few people who we found and we got to have a really good conversation with a Canadian Solider in a local Café but it was certainly nothing like I had expected or hoped.  The good news is that the young people who came proved their commitment but sticking out a tough night of fishing.  I see in these young people great dedication, desire and also wisdom in which they were able to suggest some ways in which I could be more effective in Evangelism (like not forgetting to introduce myself first).

                Their desire to serve God has not been dampered.  Every greenhorn on a fishing boat gets paid regardless of whether fish are caught or not.  I know that their time will be rewarded by our father in heaven.  As they have all voiced desires to continue to grow in wisdom and skill in Evangelism.  I believe that we will continue to learn from each other.  These young people will definitely make an incredible long term impact on this community, especially as they encourage and spur on one another.

                Please pray that we continue to meet and that these young people get to see some good fruit from their labors that they might be spurred on all the more out of love.  Also please pray for the Bible study starting up at the high school I believe that God desires to use it to reach many young people. 

                As for the conversation in the café, we described the heart of the Gospel in the substitutionary atonement with a parable of an officer substituting himself for a solider under the condemnation of death for desertion.  As we said “the MP looks at your new ID with all his merits on it the MP says to you ‘you’ve done nothing wrong I cant hold you here you are free to go.”  The man was visibly moved.  Whether by the memory of his fallen officer or by the truth of the message it is hard to tell but either way this tatted up solider was confronted uncomfortable truths and we can hope that it has place a ‘rock in his shoe’ to think about.

We had one other extrodinary conversation but lets face it people dont read long posts so I'll post it in a day or so.

Grace and Peace,

Aaron